The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Coping with mob psychology

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 24, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Coping with mob psychology

CROWD MANAGEMENT is, of late, emerging a challenge to law- enforcing agencies. It has given a new dimension to conventional security protocol. Be it elections or agitations, the security scheme is now drawn up taking mob psychology into consideration.

With public meetings, agitations and processions being allowed in the heart of the city, the police are often put on tenterhooks. For instance, an estimated 15,000 people took part in a public meeting organised by a political party at the Tamukkam Grounds on April 19. With vital installations all around, the city police deployed manpower in such a manner that the gathering/dispersing of the crowd went off smoothly.

"Since more than half the participants come from other districts, we have to keep track till they board their vehicles and leave the city limits. Most of the riots start with a simple stone pelting. Though the number of police personnel is much less compared to the mob, a strategic deployment of the strength can always prevent untoward incidents," says a senior police official.

Gone are the days when police used force to discipline unruly mobs. "On the contrary, we have to be cordial as the emphasis is more on the behavioural aspects of the police these days. However, the persuasive methods have proved effective on several occasions," he adds.

With the Parliamentary elections fast approaching, the pressure has only heightened since there is a public meeting almost everyday that concludes at 10 p.m. Besides escorting the VIP, the police have to keep a close watch on party cadres till they scatter out to their respective destinations.

During the `Vinayaka Chathurti' last year, the trouble erupted when a jubilant group of youngsters was returning home after the idol immersion celebrations. "Two groups of youths clashed in the Nelpettai locality. But for the timely intervention of a mobile patrol team, the incident would have snowballed into a major violence," recalls an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Hours ahead of a procession or public meeting, the police identify the sensitive areas and strengthen bandobust accordingly. A select group of `spotter' police constables keeps a watch on habitual offenders and dossier criminals. In most of the meetings, plainclothesmen mingle with the participants, which helps in pinpointing the source of violence if any.

"The very presence of police in large numbers keeps mischief-mongers at bay. The advent of sophisticated equipment like the `speed-dome' camera and `handy-cams' has made crowd management easy," adds the ACP.

Since lakhs of devotees pour into the city for the annual `Chithirai' festival, the city police plan to evolve a comprehensive security arrangement wherein the emphasis would be laid more on crowd management.

Security watch cameras are expected to come up in different parts of the city with temporary control rooms to monitor the movement of the public during the festival, claim police sources.

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